Psychedelic Science 2017: What You Need to Know (Even If You Don’t Have a Pass)

Psychedelic Science officially started today in Oakland, CA, and will run through the weekend. The conference, which is organized by MAPS (the Multi-disciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies) brings together the world’s leading scientists, scholars, artists, and visionaries to talk about the state of psychedelics in the world today.

We’re at a key moment in our history when it comes to psychedelics. Recreational marijuana legalization is on the rise across the United States. Research exploring the role of psychedelics and other drugs for healing, including ayahuasca and MDMA, is once again being done, and the results are astonishing. Across the board, therapists and scientists are getting conclusive data that reveals these substances can help patients dealing with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and even the fear of death during chronic illness. Psychedelic Science will continue the conversations happening now and chart pathways for next steps. And even though it’s sold out, there are still ways you can participate.

Over 100 talks will be streamed live from the conference and will be available to view on YouTube and Facebook (MAPS and Psymposia Facebook pages). Even if you’re across the country, or the world, you’ll be able to turn on, tune in, and (not) drop out.

If you’re in the Bay area, take advantage of the conference happenings that are free and open to the public in the Marketplace at the Oakland City Center Marriott Hotel. The Marketplace will be the spot to ogle psychedelic art, handmade crafts and gifts, items in the MAPS store, and more. You can also visit a poster session, wander around the gallery, and have tea at the Full Circle Tea House. Marketplace hours are listed here.

Hear visionaries in person at the Psymposia Stage (in the Marketplace area). Events will include talks from researchers, first-person accounts of psychedelic journeys, open mics, live podcast recordings, interviews (including one with Dennis McKenna) and conversations. There’s something happening at the Stage, located in the conference Marketplace, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. most days. Like everything in the Marketplace, Stage events are free and open to the public.

Ok, so it’s not a conference event, but tonight’s Bicycle Day is kinda the official pre-conference party. Bicycle Day commemorates the famous LSD-accompanied bike ride Albert Hofmann took on April 19, 1943. The world would never be the same, and neither will you after this all-night event, featuring live painting and speaking from visionary artist Alex Grey and wife Allyson, live visuals from Android Jones, and music from Bureau of Sabotage, Papadosio, Eliot Lipp, and more. Tickets are still available; more info on Facebook.

How will you be checking out the conference? What are you most excited about?

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From April 19-24, Oakland, CA, will be the epicenter of the psychedelic movement as visionaries, creatives, and researchers join forces for Psychedelic Science, a conference held by MAPS (the Multidisciplinary ...